“ We can ’ t achieve the level of care we provide without philanthropy — it ’ s absolutely essential .”
— Dr . Cheryl Cipriani to the capable hands of Scott & White specialists . Neonatal-trained nurses , respiratory therapists and other staff may travel as far as 200 miles to pick up babies from other hospitals in the region . Also , high-risk mothers with pregnancy complications benefit from this service and are assured of the best possible outcome . introducing us to other families who had ‘ graduated ’ from the NICU ,” she says . “ Without the support they gave us , I wouldn ’ t have been able to make it either .” Especially important to the family were Emmanuelle Resto , NP , RN , a nurse practitioner , and Amy Haas , RN , a neonatal nurse who sought to console the Halls and gave them helpful advice throughout their ordeal .
Now Allison is a happy , active threeyear-old . She is meeting important developmental milestones as well .
A baby ’ s care in the NICU A child admitted to the NICU may receive care from multiple pediatric specialists , including a neonatologist , a geneticist or a pediatric surgeon . Or a pulmonologist ( lung specialist ), an ophthalmologist , a gastroenterologist ( digestive specialist ), a radiologist or an infectious disease expert . One thing that remains constant is the ever faithful care and attention of the NICU ’ s nurses and support staff . The entire NICU team is focused on each child ’ s care .
Babies admitted to the NICU may be born prematurely and have complications , or they may be babies who have serious infections or birth defects , or experience difficulties during delivery or in the first few days of life .
Advanced resources for parents — from overnight stay to pediatric transport “ We see parents who are very nervous and frightened , so we try our best to make a family-friendly atmosphere ,” says Dr . Cipriani . “ As much as the patient ’ s health will allow , parents are invited to be directly involved in their [ baby ’ s ] daily care .” Parents also have access to three overnight rooms so they can be trained on equipment that they may need to take home with them when the baby leaves the hospital . In addition , the Harvey Family Support Center has recently been completed . It includes resources for families to learn more about caring for premature infants .
When time is of the essence , specially equipped ambulances and helicopters , ready around the clock , can safely transport premature or critically ill infants
Innovative “ Cool Cap ” technology “ For many years we ’ ve focused on heart and lung function and how they can be improved , and haven ’ t had the resources to monitor the brain at the same level ,” says Dr . Cipriani . That ’ s changing now , with the introduction of the Olympic™ Cool Cap technology at Scott & White , the first hospital in Texas to offer patients this innovation . Thanks to a $ 75,000 donation from the Scott & White Auxiliary and $ 10,000 from the Dan Kirkland Wells Foundation to fund a cooling blanket , the NICU is offering greater hope to families .
The new Cool Cap System , which must be used within six hours of birth , helps babies whose oxygen supply has been interrupted at birth . The cap lowers the baby ’ s brain temperature , reducing the brain ’ s demand for energy and ultimately helping to prevent neurological damage . The blanket lowers body temperature , to reduce complications .
Dr . Cipriani says , “ This hypothermia therapy helps stop brain cell death from lack of oxygen , ultimately minimizing long-term effects of brain injury .” She works in collaboration with Darrell Crisp , MD , and Tricia S . Ritch ,
sw . org | Winter 10 THE CATALYST 7